Dinos and burros and rocks, oh my!
The Mines Museum of Earth Science isn’t usually this scary. It transformed into a spooky scene at its annual Spooktacular, hosting more than 1,000 people, including 600 youngsters, most of them decked out in costumes.
For veterans of the free event held on Saturday, Spooktacular was an old trick. For others, it was a new treat.
The crowd was much bigger than the museum staff was expecting, Executive Director Renata Lafler said. Last year’s drew about 700 people. Lafler was thankful most of this year’s Spooktacular was outside, a contrast to prior years when the event was primarily in the building.
The reason for the change was that attendees stopped at stations along the museum displays, but that created some congestion as groups waited for their turns.
The fall weather was perfect for the outdoor crowd this year, including Colorado School of Mines mascot Blaster the Burro and Mr. Bones the Tyrannosaurus rex. Attendees visited face-painting and pumpkin-carving booths. There were also some themed for science, including a geode-cracking booth.
Inside, the museum displays were draped with cobwebs and other Halloween decorations, as visitors picked up goodies and posed for photos.
Lafler thanked the Morrison Natural History Museum, the U.S. Geological Survey, Miss Teen Colorado and Miss Golden and other local partners who helped make the event a success.
Spooktacular is the Mines Museum’s largest outreach event of the year, and a great trick-or-treat alternative for children who can’t have candy because of allergies, Lafler said. The museum and its partners endeavored to keep the event candy-free by putting together goodie bags of bouncy balls, stickers and other fun items.
The Mines Museum of Earth Science is free and open seven days a week. For more information on upcoming events and programming, visit mines.edu/museumofearthscience.
Click through the Transcript’s photo gallery of Spooktacular 2023 here:
Dressed as a devil, 1-year-old Tui Wotring meets Blaster the Burro Oct. 21 during the Mines Museum’s annual Spooktacular event. Blaster is the Colorado School of Mines mascot who appears at athletic events and social gatherings throughout the year. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Alan Sujansky of the Morrison Natural History Museum teaches attendees about dinosaurs and fossils Oct. 21 during the Mines Museum’s Spooktacular. The annual event had both indoor and outdoor displays this year. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Andrew Fisher, 7, and his family look a display inside the Mines Museum of Earth Science Oct. 21 during its Spooktacular. The annual event had both indoor and outdoor displays this year, including a face-painting booth. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Willy Tuz of Colorado Fruit Designs carves a mining-themed pumpkin Oct. 21 during the Mines Museum’s Spooktacular. The annual event had both indoor and outdoor displays this year. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Dressed as Anna and Olaf from “Frozen,” Raquel Jesus and 1-year-old Sonya meet Mr. Bones Oct. 21 during the Mines Museum’s Spooktacular. More than 1,000 youngsters and their families attended this year’s event. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Jackson Fisher, 10, meets Mr. Bones Oct. 21 during the Mines Museum’s Spooktacular. More than 1,000 youngsters and their families attended this year’s event. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Mines Museum staff members teach young attendees about the earth’s layers Oct. 21 during the museum’s annual Spooktacular. The annual event had both indoor and outdoor displays this year. Credit: Corinne Westeman